The Sound of Science
posted in: Music News
In the latest innovation from personal genomics company 23andMe, consumers can not only see their genetic code; they can hear it. The California company is now offering a feature that allows users to convert the information from their DNA into a unique melody. In addition to a complete report on a customer’s personal genetic makeup, the company’s new lab transforms each aspect of a person’s DNA into a musical parameter. The algorithm, developed by San Francisco composer Mark Ackerly, derives musical characteristics from personal attributes, such as height or eye color, and then combines the separate musical facets to create a short, cohesive composition. Each compositional aspect, including rhythm, pitch, and note length, corresponds to a particular portion of the user’s genotype. Hear Ackerly’s example DNA melody below. While this is certainly a really cool technology, we’re looking forward to a time when our personal DNA melodies will sound more like a Led Zeppelin tune than a four“year“old trying unsuccessfully to play “Chopsticks” for the first time.
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